Life-float



(No Modl.)

Y H H. WILLIAMS.

LIFE FLOAT.

Patented Mar. 8, 188-8.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HERBERT H. WILLIAMS, OF THOMASTON, MAINE.

Ll FE-FLOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,993. dated March 6. 1888.

Application filed September 6, 1887. Serial No. 248,973.

' floats, such as buoys, life-preservers, life-rafts,

and other vessels, frames, or constructions deslgned for supporting bodies in the water and preserving life.

My invention consists in providing such floats with a reservoir for oil, said reservoir having a novel outlet, whereby the oil may escape automatically, no matter on which side the float may be turned when launched'or to which it may be thrown by the action of the waves after it is in the water.

My invention further consists in a ring-buoy provided with an oil-reservoir having an out-- let from which its contents may escape whenthe buoy is thrown into the water.

The general and well-known object is, by means of the escaping oil, to calm the surrounding water sufliciently to enable the float to be discerned at a longer distance than it otherwise could be, and also to provide for a calm space about the float for the preservation of life and the convenience of the person supported by the float.

The particular object of my invention is to provide such floats with an oil-reservoir having such an outlet that the contents of the reservoirwill escape automatically and freely, no matter what may be the position assumed by the float in the water.

A further object of my invention is to provide aspecific class of floats-namely, the common ring-buoys used for the purpose of throwing to a man fallen overboard-with a suitable reservoir provided with an outlet for the escape of its contents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my buoy, a portion of the covering being broken away to show pipe B. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the buoy,taken just in front of the discharge-pipes G and D.

Though I may apply my oil-reservoir provided with the novel outlet to any life-saving float, I have deemed it sufficient for the pres- (No model.)

ent application to show it in connection with a common ring-buoy. This I have designated by A.

B isa pipe encircling the buoy and forming the reservoir for the oil. It may be placed either inside of the covering of the buoy or outside, though I prefer to have it inside. While I prefer for this form of life-float the encircling pipe shown, it is obvious that the reservoir may be differently constructed and located in other floatsf G is an open outlet-pipe leading from the encircling reservoir-pipe B in the direction of one side or surface of the buoy, and D is a similar open outlet-pipe leading in the direction of its other side or surface.

Now, when the buoy is hung up in the usual manner, the outlet-pipes are at the top and the oil contained in the encircling pipe B cannot flow out; but when the buoy is launched,

no matter on which side or surface it may fall,

and no matter on which side it may subsequently turn by the action of the waves, the oil will flow from the outlet which then happens to be extendingdownwardly. This is the advantage of the double oppositely-arranged open discharge from the reservoir. It will be seen, also, that no matter what may be the construction of the reservoiritself the oppositely-arranged open outlets may be applied with equal advantage and in any kind of a life-float.

I am aware of the attempts to provide a liferaft with oil-reservoirs having a complicated system of cocks and outlets controlled by them, and I also know that stationary buoys have sometimes been fitted with oil-chambers from which the oil flows, and therefore, in claiming my invention, I do not set up the broad idea in any case as my own; but I do claim that in connection with the ordinary ringbuoy the provision of an oil-chamber of any character provided with a suitable outlet carries novelty, for the reason that such buoys are those most often used for the preservation of life, and the advantages flowing from such a construction are great, and in a measure peculiar to such buoys; and I am not aware that any attempt has ever been made to provide such buoys with oilchambers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters face of the buoy, substantially as and for the 10 Patent, is purpose described.

1. A ringbuoy provided with an encircling In witness whereof I have hereunto set my pipe forming a reservoir for oil and provided hand.

5 with a suitable outlet, by which the oil ma 7 l escape, substantially as described. 3 TILLIAMS' 2. A ring-buoy having an encircling pipe Vitnesses: forming a reservoir for oil, and provided with S. H. NoURsE, open outlet-pipes directed to each side or sur- H. 0. LEE. 

